Meet our Evolve Leadership Team.
Our leadership team embodies excellence, inspiring and leading by example. Their diverse backgrounds and commitment to personal growth drive our company forward. We’re proud to be guided by such skilled individuals.
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- Board of Directors
- Executive Board
- Leadership Team
- Management Team
Alan Stephenson-Brown (Chief Executive Officer)
Alan Stephenson-Brown is a senior international telecommunication, network security, and payments specialist with a proven track record of developing, securing, and managing clients at the highest level. His experience spans across 28 countries worldwide, where he has delivered impressive business growth, including securing major contracts with Barclays, the Royal Bank of Scotland, and Tesco, and co-founded TNS.
Alan successfully spearheaded the corporate side of Tuxedo Money Solutions and headed the international sales and business development for Phoenix Managed Networks, which led him to where he is today, as Evolve's Managing Director. Since his appointment, he has helped grow the business, expanding services to 11 countries and 7500 endpoints, with revenue growth reaching over £17 million.
Throughout his career, Alan has secured contracts worth millions, negotiated acquisitions of over 12 companies, and introduced the first PCI Level 1 certified secure network management solution to the UK market.
A true leader, Alan completed a master's degree while still achieving excellence in all aspects of business and has a Chartered Directorship with the Institute of Directors. He's an investor, a director, a sales and business development expert, and a visionary who has proven his capabilities on an international platform.
Ryan Stephenson-Brown (Chief Operating Officer)
Ryan demonstrates a truly impressive level of drive and ambition at an astonishingly young age. Despite facing numerous challenges and obstacles, he has not been deterred and has instead channelled his unyielding determination into establishing a prosperous business at Evolve.
In 2014, at age 15, he founded his first managed network services business, which has since been incorporated into Evolve. Ryan's vision for the future of the company is clear, and he possesses the strategic acumen and entrepreneurial spirit necessary to bring that vision to life.
By virtue of his outstanding efforts and achievements, Ryan has demonstrated that age should not be a barrier to success. He is well-versed in all facets of the business, from finance and technology to sales and marketing, and is invested in Evolve's journey. Ryan has been instrumental in Evolve's growth over the past few years, supporting four acquisitions and constructing a platform from which Evolve can scale further. Ryan is an established member of the Institute of Directors a community of like-minded business leaders with networking opportunities and development courses for self-improvement. In 2023 he was also named Best Northern Finance Director of the Year, making him the youngest person to ever win the award.
Lee Simpson (Chief Financial Officer)
Lee Simpson is an accomplished financial expert who brings a wealth of experience and the prestigious ACA qualification to his role, demonstrating a profound understanding of finance.
Lee's illustrious career has been marked by consistently outstanding achievements. In his prior position as CFO at UK Hire Group, he spearheaded a financial revitalisation, introducing streamlined processes, reducing debtor days, and achieving an impressive 22% year-on-year revenue growth.
Before joining Evolve, Lee served as Head of M&A at Slater & Gordon, orchestrating complex divestitures and overseeing acquisitions of high-volume legal services divisions. His strategic prowess shone as Head of M&A at DCC Technology (Exertis), where he played a pivotal role in global expansion efforts.
Lee's impact extends beyond the corporate arena. At Ainscough Crane Hire, he implemented best practices, facilitated M&A deals, and drove operational enhancements. As an Associate Director of M&A at Tyco International, he oversaw over 15 acquisitions and divisions across various Tyco businesses, solidifying his reputation for global expansion.
Adrian Thirkhill (Non-Executive Chairman)
Adrian is an experienced technology and telecoms executive leader with over 20 years of expertise.
Adrian was CEO of GCI, a significant UK IT and communications business, from January 2015 to September 2019. He helped the company develop and innovate.
Before joining GCI, Adrian was Managing Director of Easynet Global Services from November 2013 to October 2015 and Chief Operating Officer & UK Managing Director from January 2008 to October 2015. His leadership at Easynet improved consumer and employee happiness, providing long-term financial value.
Adrian held several directorial positions at COLT Telecom for eight years. He oversaw worldwide customer experience and strategic market operations in 10 European countries as Director of Operations for the Major Enterprise Division (August 2006 to January 2008) and Strategic Markets (2000 to August 2006).
Adrian is renowned for building and leading multi-cultural international teams and generating high customer and employee satisfaction. He excels in strategic leadership and operational excellence to create long-term financial benefit.
Josh Bean (BGF Board Member)
Josh brings a wealth of experience from his role at BGF, where he joined as an investor in April 2021. At BGF, he engages in all facets of the investment process, from the initial deal origination to execution and completion, ensuring ongoing support for companies throughout the investment period. Before his tenure at BGF, Josh was part of the Corporate Finance team at Zeus Capital, an investment bank. He advised on a variety of deals, including IPOs, capital raises, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity transactions. He began his career in EY’s Transaction Support team, delivering financial due diligence on diverse transaction types and earning his Chartered Accountant qualification. Josh’s extensive background equips him with the expertise to effectively support Evolve's growth and success.
Simon Saffidine (Chief Technology Officer)
Simon Saffidine is an accomplished IT professional with over 12 years of experience in IT engineering and technical service delivery. A respected expert on digital transformation, he has a proven track record of delivering tailored IT solutions.
Simon joined the Evolve leadership team following a successful career as Director of Technical Transformation at ANS Group, overseeing the integration of software and processes and acting as the technical lead for acquisitions. Before this, Simon spent 6 years at UKFast, the last two years as Technical Director and participated on the board to influence crucial decisions.
Simon studied Computer Networking Technology and Information Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University, starting his career as an engineering apprentice at Fujitsu Services and Bombardier Aerospace (UK) Ltd.
Rob Brown (Operations Director)
Rob previously worked in the construction industry for Allied Infrastructure, a multi-disciplined specialist contractor specialising in the airports, highways, defence, and construction sectors, where he managed numerous multimillion-pound projects nationally and internationally. In 2001, he began his career at Allied as a drilling operator, working on the majority of the UK's major runways and highways. Before leaving the company at the end of December 2018, he was quickly promoted to supervisor, then contracts manager, and most recently, operations director.
Rob served in the British Army as a soldier and Grenadier Guard earlier in his adult life. Rob left the army after five years of service to his country, numerous tours, and guarding the Queen, where he discovered he had an aptitude for business!
Rob possesses a wealth of operational knowledge, commercial awareness, and many transferable skills pertaining to the operation and management of a successful business.
Adam Cole (Development Director)
Adam is an ardent supporter of reforming the conventional education system. Adam's primary value and continuous self-improvement is his commitment to lifelong education. Prior to assuming this position, Adam held several subordinate positions while he taught himself the concept of software development.
Adam has vast experience in software development and designed the custom guest WiFi system for Evolve, which supports over 5 million connections per year. Adam and his colleagues also created a custom "internal" system that powers our 24/7 support team.
Paul Washington (Director of Strategic Partnerships)
Paul Washington has a remarkable career spanning over 20 years in the financial services and networking sectors, with a passion for ‘delivering on the promise’ and ‘exceeding customer expectations'. His drive, insight, and guidance ensures Evolve's dedication to customer care differentiates itself from the competition.
Throughout his illustrious journey, Paul has occupied various roles, from consultant to department head to director, showcasing his exceptional prowess in navigating the intricacies of the industry and championing customer excellence. Working in large scale organisations such as Cognizant, IBM, Sopra and Atom Bank.
Paul's forges close collaborations with valued partners and customers and offers the strategic guidance needed for them to flourish in today's ever-evolving business landscape. He places high value on the paramount importance of robust partnerships and customised solutions. With Paul steering Evolve's partnership strategy, Evolve is brimming with confidence in their capacity to deliver top-tier support and expertise to their cherished customers. Paul's personal mission is to enable success and empower Evolve's most dedicated clientele through Managed Network Solutions.
Neil Muttock (Commercial Director)
Neil approaches customer service with dedication and enthusiasm. He understands the importance of excellent relationships for business success and strives to foster a customer-focused culture. Neil actively solicits feedback from customers, implements solutions, and invests in training and resources in order to provide exceptional service that fosters customer loyalty and drives growth.
Whilst at Talk Talk, Neil was the custodian for a number of the key wholesale partnerships. This experience positioned him perfectly to transition into the role of Commercial Director for Evolve, where he assumed ultimate accountability for our account management (both with direct and indirect customers) and marketing strategies.
Rachel Rowlandson (IT Service Director)
In her role as the IT Service Operations Manager, Rachel stands out as an award-winning IT Service Desk Manager with an impressive track record of over 20 years in the IT support domain. Her extensive experience encompasses all facets of IT support services, showcasing a deep understanding of IT infrastructure, service delivery, and customer satisfaction. At the helm of a robust and efficient team, Rachel's leadership is characterised by a commitment to excellence and a proactive approach to overcoming challenges. Her strategic thinking and dedication to continuous improvement have created a collaborative work environment that encourages innovation and high-performance standards within the IT support team. Rachel's expertise extends beyond routine operations; she actively stays informed about emerging technologies and industry trends. This proactive stance ensures that our IT support services remain at the forefront of technological advancements, offering clients a seamless and cutting-edge support experience.
Natalie Dugdale (Head of Operations)
Natalie was eager to bring her passion for "raising the bar" in employee engagement and years of experience in successful operations management to Evolve. Having worked for such a prestigious brand as Marks & Spencer for over 14 years, she knows firsthand the importance of building a positive and engaged team with streamlined operations. Her time at M&S taught her invaluable lessons in building and managing successful operations, as well as cultivating her knowledge of employee engagement.
Throughout her career, she has been driven by her love of all things people and processes, constantly striving to create a dynamic and engaging work environment for her teams. Natalie completed her degree in English Language and Literature while at M&S, and the skills she obtained there taught her how to communicate effectively. With a track record of success in senior leadership roles across the North West of England, including the opening of a new store in Rochdale during the challenging time of the pandemic, she is excited to bring her skills and expertise to Evolve and help drive the organisation forward.
Stuart Milroy (Head of Technical Delivery)
Before joining Evolve, Stuart made significant contributions to leading businesses such as Maintel, Adept4 and Avoira, where he successfully delivered a diverse range of projects spanning across all aspects of IT services. Stuart's previous success speaks strongly about his dedication to excellence and his ability to navigate through challenging technical landscapes. At Evolve, we're confident that Stuart's strategic vision and hands-on experience will play a pivotal role in driving our technical delivery initiatives forward, ensuring that we continue to exceed our customer's expectations and maintain our position at the forefront of innovation in the industry.
Constance Smith (Marketing Manager)
Constance is an accomplished marketing manager with experience in various B2B industries. She started her career in Property Management and has since worked in Recruitment, Software, Landscaping, Utilities, and now telecoms. Constance's passion for marketing, ability to learn quickly and adapt to new challenges have made her a valuable asset in every industry she has worked in.
Her expertise in digital marketing, content creation, data analysis, and strategy development has enabled her to deliver results for her customers consistently. Constance's drive, determination, and dedication to her craft make her an inspiring professional. Her ability to connect with people on a personal level sets her apart from others in the industry.
As a marketing manager, Constance is always up-to-date with the latest marketing trends and technologies, and she is able to deliver innovative strategies that drive engagement and boost sales. Her diverse experience in the B2B space has given her a fresh perspective, and she continues to make a lasting impact at Evolve as we grow.
Rebecca Mahood (Compliance Manager)
Becky has been Compliance Manager at Evolve since February 2024. She brings extensive experience from ExamWorks UK, where she spent over five years, advancing from Compliance Officer to Senior Compliance Officer. Her tenure there included expertise in legal writing and presentations.
Previously, Becky worked at 3D Rehabilitation Limited, progressing from Rehabilitation Administrator to Finance Coordinator. Her diverse roles have equipped her with a robust skill set in compliance, finance, and administration, making her a valuable asset Evolve.
Matty Lee (NOC Manager)
In 2017, Matty started working as a service desk analyst at Intrinsic Technology, which is now part of Maintel. Matty advanced to become the Network Operations Centre Team Leader in just two years. He was exposed to important telecom infrastructure in this capacity, including LAN networking. In addition to participating in project rollouts and gaining invaluable expertise from customer site visits, Matty's primary responsibilities in this capacity were ticket and incident management. Working as a NOC Team Leader gave Matty experience that would help him succeed in his later jobs at Evolve. In July 2023, Matty started working as a shift supervisor at Evolve. His goal is to streamline procedures and maximise the NOC's efficiency while maintaining his team's job satisfaction. Matty is a keen believer in constant improvement and is looking at the different ways Evolve can improve, for example, through bespoke training for each NOC team member. Matty began his career as a Senior Sales Assistant in 2013, where he learnt the importance of pace and the value of customer satisfaction. Matty was promoted to NOC Manager at Evolve in just three months. Drawing from his previous expertise as a shift supervisor and service desk analyst, Matty aims to guide the NOC team through a phase of rapid expansion and advancement.
James Marsland (Provisioning Manager)
James is Evolve’s Provisioning Manager. With a background marked by four years of hands on experience in broadband technical team leader positions, coupled with eight years of distinguished leadership roles within the Armed Forces, he brings a wealth of expertise to the table. Throughout his career, he has successfully overseen diverse teams, navigated varied environments, and consistently achieved excellence. His commitment to maintaining the highest standards underscores my professional approach and ensures effective leadership in every endeavour.
Antony Seddon (Senior Network Engineer)
Laura Drury (IT Support Desk Manager)
In 2021, Laura started her career as an IT Apprentice, learning the fundamentals of the field and how to provide the highest level of customer service. After completing her apprenticeship, Laura rose fast to the position of Subject Matter Expert, and six months later, she was promoted to Team Leader. Laura took over as Evolve's Information Technology Service Desk Manager in 2023 at the age of 21, overseeing her own team and keeping an eye on the effectiveness and quality of the service desk.
Stephen Hill (Field Services and Warehouse Manager)
Stephen is the Field Services and Warehouse Manager at Evolve, bringing over six years of expertise in optimising field operations, managing inventory, and leading teams. His experience includes scheduling and resource allocation, project coordination, and contract management, as well as working with blue-chip companies and national infrastructure projects. Stephen dedicates himself to ensuring efficient service delivery, maintaining optimal stock levels, and driving continuous process improvements to enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Sam Bradshaw (IT 2nd Line Support Manager)
Sam Bradshaw is an accomplished IT professional who currently serves as Evolve's 2nd Line Support Manager. With extensive experience in IT support and management, Sam specialises in resolving complex technical issues, leading support teams, and ensuring smooth IT operations. His expertise includes network troubleshooting, system administration, and user support, making him a valuable asset to the Evolve team. Sam's leadership skills and technical acumen contribute to the efficient handling of IT challenges, providing reliable support to maintain organisational productivity and technology infrastructure.
Imed Berraies (IT Service Desk Manager)
Imed started his IT career in 2010 as an IT support technician in Tunisia. From there, he moved on to take on other IT support responsibilities, eventually becoming a senior technical support analyst in 2015. Imed began working for the BCN Group in 2016 as a service desk engineer and advanced fast to the position of support team leader. Imed moved to Manchester to work as a Service Delivery Manager following four years at BCN. Imed has been employed by Evolve since January 2024, and his work as Service Desk Manager is essential to the company's daily IT Support operations.
